General Casualty vs. Metromile: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for auto insurance, General Casualty offers slightly less expensive rates than Metromile
• General Casualty offers more affordable prices for policyholders who drive fewer than 12,000 miles annually
• Metromile has cheaper premiums for policyholders who live in suburban areas

General Casualty vs. Metromile: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering huge discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might have narrowed your search down to General Casualty or Metromile for your next policy, but between the two, which carrier has more affordable prices for car insurance?

As you can see, General Casualty is about $11 per month cheaper than Metromile when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

Even so, that doesn't mean General Casualty will necessarily be less expensive than Metromile for each driver. Insurance companies use all sorts of complex algorithms to calculate rates, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how good your credit score is (among a bunch of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Wanting to know if General Casualty or Metromile is really the right company for you? Keep on reading to see how average rates can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

General Casualty or Metromile: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

General Casualty and Metromile only compete against each other in Arizona, where Metromile offers the cheaper average premiums. For Arizona residents, Metromile offers auto insurance for $150 per month on average. General Casualty's average prices come out to be more expensive, at $152 a month.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance payment than just where you live. Continue reading to learn more about how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers generally pay a lot more for insurance than any other group of drivers out there on the road. It's typically because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use General Casualty save more than $55 a month compared to those who use Metromile.

That being said, with both carriers, you'll see your rates lower significantly once you turn 25. Metromile offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, General Casualty still has the most affordable premiums at $114 monthly.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to auto insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the cheapest rates you'll ever see.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between General Casualty and Metromile? General Casualty gets the slight edge here, with average rates coming in at around $124 a month compared to Metromile's $129. But the difference is only about 5%, so other variables will likely come into play when determining which carrier has the most affordable prices for you.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance premiums are usually more affordable for married drivers than they are for those who are single? This usually boils down to married couples having more than one car on their policy -- something many car insurance companies will reward with discounts.

If you're in the market for insurance, General Casualty tends to have the cheapest average prices regardless of if you're married or single, with prices nearly $15 less expensive for single drivers and around $10 more affordable for married policyholders.

General Casualty vs. Metromile: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, they have an increased chance of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, men tend to pay more for car insurance than women.

On average, men see rates almost $15 per month higher with General Casualty, but surprisingly, with Metromile, men normally pay about $4 a month less than women.

When it comes to the lowest premiums for each gender, General Casualty comes out as the cheapest option for both genders, with average rates $2 less for men and $20 cheaper for women.

General Casualty or Metromile: Compare State Minimum vs. Full Coverage Rates

*State minimum value indicates liability-only policies at each state's minimum bodily injury and property damage (BI/PD) limits

**Full coverage indicates state minimum BI/PD limits with collision and comprehensive coverages added to policy.

Auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different coverages and terms that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- alongside liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, General Casualty typically offers cheaper prices of $82 compared to Metromile's $99. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, General Casualty again has the edge, with policies around $6 per month more affordable than Metromile, on average.

Is General Casualty or Metromile Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

It's no secret secret that tickets and accidents lead to higher premiums, but which company -- General Casualty or Metromile -- has the lowest prices for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

General Casualty policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $43 a month if they get a ticket, while Metromile normally raises rates about $33 per month, on average.

However, General Casualty has less expensive premiums for drivers in both categories, offering prices that are 22% and 10% cheaper, respectively, compared to Metromile.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

General Casualty drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their rates climb by over $55, while those who have insurance through Metromile will see around a $55 increase.

Overall, drivers who use General Casualty end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly prices averaging $146 compared to Metromile's $171.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single accident or speeding ticket when it comes to your auto insurance bill. On average, General Casualty will increase your rates about 52% after a DUI, while Metromile's average premiums increase by over 30%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, Metromile tends to be the much less expensive option with average premiums of $167 per month compared to $186 from General Casualty.

How does Credit Score Impact General Casualty and Metromile Rates?

Did you know that many car insurance carriers take your credit score into account when calculating prices? This isn't always the case (Massachusetts, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it will come into play for several policyholders.

The reasoning auto insurance companies use is that drivers with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so generally, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with cheaper premiums.

So, which carrier offers the best rates for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with General Casualty. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save just under 15% compared to Metromile, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $19 or 14% more affordable each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have bad credit, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best prices. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $17 less with General Casualty than Metromile, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving around $6 a month with Metromile.

Is General Casualty or Metromile Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a substantial impact on how much car insurance carriers will charge for coverage. Usually, those who drive fewer miles will end up with cheaper premiums since there's less of a chance of getting into an accident and causing an insurance claim.

In this case, neither General Casualty or Metromile report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Still, General Casualty comes out as the most affordable for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle yearly, with average rates of $139 per month for both.

General Casualty vs. Metromile: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

We've already mentioned how your home state can play a role in how much you pay for insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a large impact as well. Generally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas because of the number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

Looking at these companies side-by-side, Metromile tends to offer the cheapest option for drivers in rural and suburban areas, while General Casualty wins in urban areas.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, General Casualty's average premiums are about $151 while Metromile offers prices around $209. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about $121 with Metromile compared to General Casualty's $134 monthly. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay around $120 a month with Metromile compared to General Casualty's $131.

General Casualty vs. Metromile Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new car insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many insurance discounts as you can.

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be challenging to find all the ones you're eligible for.

In the table below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts General Casualty and Metromile offer their customers so that you can see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

General Casualty knocks Metromile out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering eight more discounts than Metromile.

Both carriers offer a lot of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a good driver and multi-policy discounts -- but General Casualty also offers advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, defensive driver discounts, and more that Metromile does not.

On the flip side, Metromile has a couple unique discounts of its own -- online quote discounts and paperless discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is General Casualty or Metromile Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the factors auto insurance companies look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which insurance company is the best fit for you?

General Casualty might be best for you if....

• You have a clean record.
• Your home is in a busy urban area.
• You're buying insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Metromile might be best for you if...

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.
• Your neighborhood is in a rural area.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare General Casualty and Metromile and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your car insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on auto insurance -- comparing quotes from several carriers, not just General Casualty and Metromile. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

General Casualty vs. Metromile FAQs

Is General Casualty or Metromile cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, General Casualty is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $139 a month compared to $150 for Metromile. Even so, General Casualty won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for every driver, since there are multiple different variables (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, General Casualty or Metromile?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No single company is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique insurance profile looks like. For example, Metromile offers less expensive premiums for drivers with a recent DUI, while General Casualty is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do General Casualty and Metromile offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at a lot of different factors when determining the rates they charge drivers. Variables like gender, where you park your vehicle, age, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both General Casualty and Metromile use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different carriers.

How do I know if General Casualty or Metromile is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be General Casualty or Metromile at all!

Methodology

All of the data referenced in this article has been gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. We analyzed more than 2.5 million rows of carrier-reported data to calculate the average rates referenced above. All rates are based on an insurance profile of a single-vehicle policy for a driver that owns a 2016 Honda Accord. For more information on how we calculate rates, please reference our data methodology.